SIGURD MELAND

Sigurd E. "Sig" Meland, 81, retired North Havre farmer and rancher and U.S. Army veteran, died Sunday, March 2, 2003, at a Havre care center of complications from Parkinson's disease and diabetes.

Funeral service is 2 p.m. Thursday at the First Lutheran Church in Havre with the Rev Brad Ulgenes officiating. There will be a burial with full military honors

following the funeral service at the Highland Cemetery. There is a fellowship luncheon in Sig's honor following the committal rite at the church.

Sig was born July 6, 1921 to Ole and Lida (Selsand) Meland of Cottonwood. He received his early education at the Cottonwood School. In October 1942 Sigurd entered the United States Army. He served his country during World War II in the South Pacific. Sig returned home to Montana on December 1945. On Sept. 23, 1947, Sig married Mary Ulven in Havre. He spent his life farming and ranching in the Cottonwood Community.

He took a great interest in cooperatives. He served on the board of directors of Farmer's Union Oil in Havre for 31 years. Sigurd helped to organize The Signal Butte Grazing Association in 1968 and served as the president for eight years. He helped to organize the North Havre County Water District, which serves 38 farms and ranches. He served as trustee on the Cottonwood School District for 21 years. The position he enjoyed the most was serving for 18 years as the director from Montana on the Farmer's Union Marketing and Processing Association. Sigurd was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Havre.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ole and Lida (Selsand) Meland, and sister, Lillian.

Survivors include his wife, Mary (Ulven) Meland of North Havre; son, Gary (Gloria) Meland of North Havre; daughter, Wanda Meland of Havre; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brother, Lloyd (Anna Lou) Meland of Vaughn; two nephews and a niece.

Memorials in Sig's honor may be made to the First Lutheran Church of Havre or the Care Center Chapel Fund of Havre.

Services and arrangements are under the direction of the Holland and Bonine Funeral Home.